Method for manufacturing continuous outlet strip



March 20, 1945.. w. H. FRANK 2,371,816

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CONTINUOUS OUTLET STRIP Filed Jan. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 El 3 I "x s I 9 \r O a I V L 5%.}... M I a n a 3 :1. I8

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March 20, 1945. w. H. FRANK METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CONTINUOUS OUTLET STRIP Fild Jan. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 STAGE .3

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12-'- STAGE 5 WiLLI M H.FRANK r March 20, 1945. w. H. FRANK 2,371,815

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CONTINUOUS OUTLET STRIP I Fil!.ed Jan. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 STAGES 6-8-l0 .wmnggqggg STAGES 7-9 Fig. 15

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March 20, 1945. w. H. FRANK I 2,371,816

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CONTINUOUS OUTLET STRIP Filed Jan. 22, 1942 4 Sheets -Sheet 4 mvzmoa WEUAM H. F

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- Patented 20, 1945 zs'usm METHOD ron mauur'wroamo commuous ou'rwr s'rmr William 5. Frank. nan-6n, Mich., assignor to Bull Dog Electric Products Comp ny, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of West Virginia Application January 22,1942, Serial No. 427,827

(Ci. 153-4) i 3 Claims.

This application relates to a method for manufacturing a continuous outlet strip of 'the character described in my application, Serial No.

427,828, filed .January 22, 1942. That applicatlon discloses a longitudinally slit strip comprising a longitudinally slit hollow metal casing havnally slotted front, a longitudinally slit insulation liner folded therewithin and having its front heavily beaded lips or edges registering with and exposed at the front edges of the casing, and having bus bars disposed within the folds of the in-- sulation liner.

Strip of the type described above may be rolled continuously. In the rolling of such strip, therearose the problem of accurately and uniformly .maintaining the spacing between the slot edges of the liner, and preventing them from approaching and narrowing the slot between them, as well as the problem'of uniformly forming the casing, and also the problem of forming the easing without distorting or excessively squeezing the liner and making electrical disturbances possible. The methodand rolling machine herein disclosed have solved such problems successfully.

For an understanding of the method and machine herein disclosed, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings,

Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammaticelevation and plan views, respectively, of the forming unit only of a machine for forming a continuous outlet strip.

ing a transversely slotted back, and a longitudispacer roller, a casing forming roller, and. two finishing rollers, respectively.

Fig. 17 shows a layout of the complete machine.

Fig. 18 shows casing strip before The strip A continuous outlet strip to be made by the method and machine herein shown, includes a c shaped or longitudinally slit metal casing It, a O shaped or longitudinally slit folded insulation liner ll therewithin, and two bus bars or conductor wires l2 disposed within the-folds of the c shaped liner. The edges of the liner are formed as thick heavy beads or lips IS. The casing is being formed.

formed with-transverse slots ll which have the shape shown in Fig. 18', when the casing ribbon has not yet been formed. The strip has uniformly longitudinally spaced mounting holes 15. Such strip isshown generally in my application, Serial No. 427,828, filed January 22, 1942.

The method in' ge'neral Generally speaking, the method of this application comprises feeding from spools, a ribbon of transversely relatively soft, plastic, beaded edge,- insulation liner and two round wires or bus bars, and causing the ribbons to travel individually, and'at the same rate through guides and rollers. These partially bend the metal casing ribbon into a U shape, fold the liner to a c shape around the Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the liner and the bus bars and their association with a forming gllide. I Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the completed strip.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of st ip Just after the liner and bus bars are laid in a partly shaped metal casing, as the strip passes through rollers. I

Figs, 6-9 are fragmentary views of rollers of the machine and transverse sectional views of the strip as the casing thereof passes through the rollers.

Figs. 10-12 are elevation, plan, and'sectional views, respectively, of the forming means for the liner and bus bars.

Fig. 12a is a diagrammatic view of the formin; means, for the liner and bus bars.

Fig. l3is a partial view of a liner edge spacins and casing forming unit of the machine show ing an'edge spacer roller and two casing'i'or'ming rollers. Y

conductors, dispose the liner with the bus bars therein, into the U shaped casing, and thereafter,

. while accurately and uniformly maintaining the spacing between the edges of the liner, and preventing them fromapproaching and' narrowing the slot between them, continuously turning the edge portions of the casing downwardly and inwardly, by pressure from finishing rollers, over I the folds of the liner, to maintain accurately a Before the metal ribbon 'versely slitted. After the strip is formed it is apertured at uniformly longitudinally spaced points, and it is stamped at uniformly longitudiuniform product.

is formed,- it is transnally spaced points with a trade mark or other label or marking, and the. footage of the strip is counted and desired lengthaare cut oil.

o v 'The machine In Figs. 1'-2--18there is shown a layout or diagrammatic representation of a machine for car- Figs. 14-16 are fragmentary views of an edse rying out the method heretofore described. Generally speaking, the machine comprises a metai slit thin 'sheet metal, a ribbon of II, a forming unit it, and a hole punching-holecounting-marking, and length cutting unit It.

' The forming unit it includes a bed or frame upon which are mounted, on suitably disposed transverse axles 2B, defining a plurality of stages,

pairs of rollers 2! which bend the metal casing ribbon coming from the slitting means I? into a U shape, before the liner and bus bars are associated with the casing. A forming means 22 folds the insulation liner overthe wires or bus bars,

- and lays the liner and wire strip into the partly formed U shaped casing, (Fig. 5). The outer dimension of the liner is determined, at least partially, by the shape of the caslngat that time. The strip (Fig. 5) then proceeds to the unit 23 (Fig. 13).

Rollers 24 thereof engage the liner edgm to pocket the bus bars and to prevent the liner edges from approaching, thus preventing contraction or deformation of the liner, while forming rollers 25 bend the U shaped casing over and snugly onto the liner and bus bars, into a shaped casing, without squeezing the liner. The pairs of rollers 26 finish the forming of the casing over the liner and the bus bars.

Guides 21 between the rollers keep the strip parts in line as they approach successive rollers.

The rollers and forming means are arranged in a plurality of stages (twelve). Stages H include the rollers which bend the casing to U form. Stage includes the means which folds the liner to 0 form, around the bus bars. Stages 6,8, In include the spacer rollers 24 which prevent the liner edges from approaching. Stages 1 and 9 include the rollers. 25 which bend the casing over the liner and the bus bars, to C form. Stages H and 12 include the rollers 26 which finish the operation of bending the casing over the liner and bus bars.

At no time is the liner squeezed or used as a mandrel. The shape of the casing is determined solely by the rollers 2| and 25, and not by the liner. The shape of the liner is determined by the casing, and then maintained by rollers 24 engaging the beads l3 of the liner.

After the strip leaves the forming unit it is punched with holes 15, and stamped for labelling or marking by a stamp or punch 28. As the holes l5 pass over an electric eye" or photoelectric cell 29, they permit the beam thereof to energize a counter relay 3|! which controls a length cut oil means 3| to cut oil. suitable lengths of strip as it is wound on acoil winder 32.

Now having described the method and machine hereof, reference should be had to the claims which point out and distinctly claim the method and machine comprising the invention.

' I claim: v

1. A method for continuous manufacture of longitudinally slit strip comprising a longitudinally slit hollow metal casing, and a soft plastic, longitudinally slit hollow liner therewithin and lining it, the liner strip having stiflening wires within the folds thereof, comprising continuously forming a fiat metal casing ribbon into a U shaped strip, having the edge portions formed up from the back of the strip, but not turned in, continuously laying into the U shaped casing strip a completely formed strip of liner, containing the stifiening wires, and thereafter, while accurately maintaining the liner to its original shape by insertion of a means within the liner resisting any contraction or deformation thereof, continuously rnin the edge portions of the casing downwardly and inwardly, by pressure from outside the turnedup sides of the U strip in opposite directions inwardly and downwardly,

to form the casing to finished form, snugly engaging the liner, but without having contracted or deformed it.

2. A method for continuous manufacture of strip having a longitudinally slit casing and a soft plastic hollow longitudinally slit liner containing stifiening wires which comprises the steps of forming the casing into a Li shape, forming the-liner to desired shape, with its outside dimensions at least partially determined by the U shape of the casing, and laying the liner with its stifiening wires in the casing, and thereafter, while accurately maintaining the liner to its original shape, i. e., prevented from contracting. y sertion of a means within the liner resisting any contraction thereof, closing in the free edges of the casing, around and against the liner, to the desired casing shape, by pressure from outside the casing.

3. A method for continuous manufacture of longitudinally slit strip comprising a longitudinally slit hollow metal casing, and a soft plastic, longitudinally slit hollowliner therewithin and lining it, the liner -strip having stifl'enlng wires within the folds thereof, comprising continuously forming a. flat metal casing ribbon into a U shaped strip, having the edge portions formed up from the, back of the strip, but not turned in, continuously laying into the -U shaped casing strip a completely formed strip of liner, containing the stifiening wires, with the outer dimensions of the strip, being determined, at least partially, by the U shaped casing, and thereafter, while accurately maintaining the liner to its original shape by insertion of a, means within 

